Expanding Low-yield Battlefield Nuclear Weapon Capabilities

Abstract

The unipolar moment is over. Thanks to the rise of revisionist nuclear states, America must return to analyzing nuclear signaling, nuclear coercion, and even nuclear warfare. Otherwise, a single hostile power may dominate Eurasia threatening American geopolitical interests. Competitor expansion of low-yield battlefield nuclear weapons (LYBNW) exacerbates this menace. Combined with stagnant or declining US LYBNW, American security and extended deterrence are under intensifying risk of failing under coercive pressure. Due to the rising disparity in nuclear weapons between the US and competitors, the acquisition of sea and shore-based LYBNW, such as the Sea Launch Cruise Missile-Nuclear (SLCM-N), presents valuable tools that provide policymakers additional options to signal resolve, improve deterrence, and provide unique warfighting potential.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
May 12, 2023
Accession Number
AD1210925

Entities

People

  • Jeffrey R. Weinmeister

Organizations

  • Naval War College

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Counter WMD
  • Space
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Arms Control
  • Ballistic Missile Submarines
  • Ballistic Missiles
  • Command And Control
  • Cruise Missiles
  • Doctrine
  • International Security
  • National Security
  • Naval Operations
  • Naval Warfare
  • Navy
  • Precision-Guided Munitions
  • Rockets
  • Schools
  • Strategic Weapons
  • United States Strategic Command
  • War Colleges
  • Warfare
  • Weapons Effects

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Asian Economic Studies
  • Economics
  • Nuclear Non-Proliferation and International Security